Tunisian finance minister tenders abrupt resignation

TUNIS, Tunisia--Tunisia's finance minister has resigned, claiming that he is outnumbered by a government that spends to win electoral support.

Houcine Dimassi said in a letter of resignation on Friday, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, that his bid to favor healthy public finances differed with most ministers in the government led by Islamist Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali. He said they want "an electoral approach resulting in sudden and vertiginous state spending."

Dimassi is the second minister in less than a month to resign. The other was the minister in charge of administrative reform, Mohamed Abbou, known as "Mr. Anti-Corruption."